Toilet Brush with Joing

ABSTRACT

A toilet brush  1  having an articulated connection  5  between brush head  4  and brush handle  3  has a targeted blocking or lock in one of the two possible pivoting directions of the articulated connection  5  formed as a rotatable joint  10.  For this purpose, the rotatable joint  10  is formed by the two fork ends  32, 33  at the end of the brush handle  3  and an axis  11,  whereby the fork ends  32, 33  permit pivoting towards the side  15,  but lock towards the other side  16,  because here the two fork ends  32, 33  are connected to each other via a locking shell  41  and prevent pivoting. This locked, articulated connection  5  permits on the one hand very intensive cleaning of the outlet of the toilet basin, because the brush head  4  is bent up when pushed through and can then also clean the upper area of the outlet pipe. In addition, when the toilet brush  1  is turned, this articulated connection  5  is locked simultaneously and can clean the rest of the toilet basin with the corresponding pressure and also the inner channel at the upper edge of the toilet basin, again with the curved brush head 4. This improved cleaning effect is further optimized by the fact that practically the entire brush head  4  especially with bristles  6, 7, 8  is made of flexible, hygienically flawless material.

The invention relates to a toilet brush having a hand grip, a brush handle and a brush head at the end, whereby the brush handle and brush head have a articulated connection with each other and whereby the bristles are distributed all around the bristle carrier and formed from a material that loosens faeces and lime from the toilet basin.

The toilet brushes that were usually offered and sold by the trade have a brush head that is rigidly connected to the brush handle. The bristles forming the brush head are usually made of plastic, whereby they are needle-shaped and made of hard plastic. Associated with this is the disadvantage that these bristles consisting of hard plastic partially bring faeces into the brush head, so that subsequent cleaning of the toilet brush is essential. In addition, with these familiar rigid brushes, it is hardly possible to completely clean the transition from the toilet basin into the drain and also to free it from lime residues and similar hard components.

In order to enable the latter in particular, toilet brushes have been developed with a joint between the brush handle and the brush head. They are now on sale, whereby joints protected by an American patent are used that allow the toilet brush to move in all directions. Apart from the fact that these newer toilet brushes also have the usual hard bristles, mobility of the brush head in all directions has the disadvantage that, for example, faeces adhering to the toilet bowl or other solid components cannot be optimally removed, because the brush yields too much through the joint and avoids the pressure. Furthermore, with these familiar brushes it is not possible to clean the inner channel of the toilet basin through which the fresh water flows in, because neither the rigid formation of the toilet brush nor the joint allowing movement in all directions allows insertion and movement in this groove. Finally, there are also toilet brushes on the market that instead of the joint have a thinned zone of the brush handle in the transition to the brush head, whereby this thinning permits even better movements in that it runs in a wave-shaped manner. However, the same disadvantages are present as those also present with the articulated connection, or it is necessary to take great care that the brush is placed and held in the corresponding “rigid” position when cleaning the toilet bowl. In addition, even if the brush is held in the correct position, pivoting movements may occur and an overload of the “weakened” zone.

The invention therefore has the task of creating a toilet brush that is well-suited for cleaning the discharge area of the actual toilet bowl and at the same time the inner edge as well.

The problem is solved by the fact that the articulated connection is formed as a rotatable joint movable around an axis that is formed on one side to permit movements greater than 90° movements and is locked on the other side and that the bristles are made of hygienic, flexible plastic material.

This rotatable joint, which is locked to one side, makes it possible without problems to move the toilet brush back and forth in the toilet bowl, for example, with the necessary high pressure, in order to remove existing dirt residues. On the other side, the toilet brush can be swivelled or moved by more than 90° in relation to the brush handle, so that when inserted into the drain, the upper part of the tubular drain can be safely reached and cleaned. The bristles of the brush head can be moved back and forth with sufficient pressure without overburdening the brush head. In addition, it is possible to use the same brush head to clean the groove at the top of the toilet pan, because the rotatable joint allows movement of more than 90°, i.e. up to 140° for example. The brush head can therefore be placed in a position where it can be moved back and forth in the groove in the optimum position for cleaning. The bristles themselves are not made of hard plastic as in the prior art, but rather made of a hygienic and at the same time flexible material, i.e. soft to medium-hard plastic. They cling when pressed on the toilet bowl and also when moved against the drain pipe and can thus easily remove the dirt sitting there by moving back and forth, so that an advantageous optimum cleaning effect can be observed.

In further development of the rotatable joint, the invention provides that the articulated connection to the other side is designed to be lockable. It is conceivable that if fixing of the rotatable joint is necessary, a sleeve is simply pushed over it, so that the effect of the rotatable joint is eliminated.

Bristles made from the flexible material can fulfil their cleaning effect particularly well if they are arranged at a distance to form combs aligned towards to the brush tip. These combs can thus move to the sides or in all directions and thus optimally fulfil their cleaning effect when the entire brush head is moved back and forth. The combs have a distance that corresponds, for example, to half their length.

Another advantageous way to increase the cleaning effect of the bristles is that in which the combs are arranged in a wave-shaped manner. This excludes, for example, zones on the bottom of the basin not being properly reached when sweeping in the longitudinal direction of the brush handle.

In particular with frequent use of the toilet brush, wear on the bristles is ultimately unavoidable. In the prior art, it was therefore planned, for example, to connect the brush handle and the brush head by a screw connection. Apart from the fact that production thus becomes expensive, it must always be ensured that the thread of the brush head and the brush handle match. In order to remedy these problems, the invention provides that the bristle carrier is formed as a sleeve consisting of elastic material, in whose sleeve opening an extension attached to the axis can be inserted with resistance. In this way, separation of the brush head from the brush handle can be achieved by simply pulling this extension out of the sleeve. Conversely, the extension simply needs to be inserted into the sleeve opening and then inserted into the sleeve with some resistance. Friction between sleeve and extension prevents unintentional separation of the brush head from the brush handle.

The extension is not formed as a round rod or similar, because then twisting of the sleeve on this extension would be conceivable, but the extension, which is attached to this vertically to the axis centre line, is formed in a sword-shape with respect to blade and tip. It is therefore not possible to twist the sleeve on the extension. The tip facilitates insertion into the sleeve opening and insertion into the sleeve.

In order to ensure that the extension, which gives the brush head the desired mobility, can be pivoted around the axis the invention provides that the extension has a pommel, which is formed to surround the axis completely and at the same time can be inserted between the fork ends of the brush handle and fixed between them.

This provides a simple and very practical connection between the brush head and the brush handle that can also be loosened if necessary, which will be referred to later.

This loosening of the connection is possible in accordance with an embodiment of the invention in that the axis is formed as screws with screw head and screw nut passing through the fork ends. In addition, however, there are also other possibilities, for example corresponding lugs on the pommel, which are insertable into corresponding blind holes in the fork ends, whereby the connection is relatively easy to make, because the fork ends or the entire brush handle are made of appropriate plastic.

Locking the rotatable joint in one of the two possible directions is enabled by the fact that an annular body projecting over the blade is arranged between the blade and the pommel. This annular body is then to be formed in such a way that it provides mobility to the blade in one direction, while in the other direction it is blocked.

Another possibility of blocking in one direction is enabled because the annular body has a semi-circular locking shell on one ring side that surrounds the fork end. This locking shell, which is usually part of the brush handle or the fork ends, makes it possible for the blade or extension to swivel out to one side as far as is necessary, for example 140°, while on the other side the movement of the blade or the extension is not possible.

An expedient extension then provides that the locking shell or a joint lock acting directly on the axis is formed to allow pivoting up to 10°-45° to the centre line of the brush handle, so that cleaning of the curved toilet bowl can be improved once again, in particular it is possible in this way to grasp the curved annular opening that forms the upper edge of the toilet basin optimally with the toilet brush, which is then stiffened so that cleaning work in this annular opening is also possible.

It was mentioned above that the bristles should be made of a special slightly flexible material in order to support deliberate adhesion to the surface that is to be cleaned. Targeted cleaning can be further improved according to the invention by the fact that the bristles at the free end are spherical or scoop-shaped or form a tip, which above all prevents faeces or similar from being impaled and then requiring separate cleaning again.

Instead of a round brush head, it is also possible to give the brush head a rectangular shape or vertical lenticular shape. The resulting “edges” can increase the cleaning effect precisely.

In order to give the brush head consisting of slightly flexible material a certain additional mobility in the tip area, the invention provides that the sleeve opening receiving the sword-shaped extension is formed to reach to the centre of the sleeve. This leaves the end of the head with a certain mobility, which is not hindered by the stiff sword-shaped extension.

Further above it was mentioned that in the prior art there is the difficulty of cleaning the downward opening groove at the top of the toilet lid through which fresh water flows. This is further facilitated with an embodiment of the invention in which the sleeve and thus the brush head has a fist-shaped end piece. This end piece is expediently dimensioned in such a way that insertion into the groove is in any case still possible namely in such a way that the bristles on it can still be operated for cleaning when the toilet brush is moved back and forth. The actual brush head must be separated from the sword-shaped extension and thus the brush handle and the grip. This has the advantage that the toilet brush or the brush head, which can be changed more often for hygienic reasons, only has to be removed and disposed of, while the rest of the toilet brush is available for further use. A secure seat, which can be easily loosened if necessary, is realized by the fact that the annular body is formed as a tightly attached insertion aid and part of the bristle-bearing sleeve, and formed to slide over the locking shell or the joint lock and the joint and the extension. This insertion aid is virtually a sleeve contoured to the sleeve-shaped brush head, into which the said parts, in particular the extension can be inserted. This insertion aid then envelops the locking shell or the articulated lock, protects these parts from soiling and acts at the same time as a resetting aid, because it is made of the same material as the actual brush or brush head, i.e. can be bent against a certain resistance. It is important that the parts providing the flexibility of the brush head are effectively and consistently protected from soiling, so that they always remain effective and so that the effect of the new toilet brush is always guaranteed.

In order to ensure the necessary flexibility and to achieve also an advantageous design of the actual brush head, the invention provides that the sleeve and the insertion aid are made of silicone and that the insertion aid has a wall thickness that sets the level of the resetting force. Depending on the location and purpose of use, the wall thickness can be changed so that the brush head immediately swings back into its starting position immediately after cleaning the groove. It is also advantageous that dirt from the toilet cannot be deposited on the silicone and that this material is hygienically optimal.

If solid components stick to the porcelain when a heavily soiled toilet is cleaned, the use of a scraper, which is arranged on the brush handle in a semicircle, is advantageous. With this scraper, even the hardest and intensely adhering components of the faeces or other impurities can be safely removed.

The brush itself can still be cleaned optimally, if, as provided according to the invention, the bristles are arranged on a comb-type longitudinal support that forms part of the brush head as well. These longitudinal supports form the innermost part of the brush head and, due to their longitudinal support-like formation, enable the required simple cleaning process of the toilet brush.

The invention is characterized in particular by the fact that a toilet brush has been created that is ideally suited for cleaning both the discharge area of the actual toilet pan as well as the inner edge of the toilet. This new toilet brush also deep cleans the outlet, especially in the upper part of the drain pipe, without the need for a special cleaning brush for this area. Because of the “flexible” cleaning by the slightly flexible bristles, not only gentle cleaning, but also very intensive cleaning can be achieved. This saves cleaning agents and ensures that the environment is safeguarded. With the toilet brush according to the invention, not only more or less solid faeces residues are removed, but also deposits of lime and urine scale, if these should have formed, and also in particular lime residues in the area of the upper inner edge can be worked on so advantageously and very intensively and namely by the actual brush head as well as additionally by the scraper, which is arranged projecting on the brush handle above these.

Further details and advantages of the subject-matter of the invention can be obtained from the following description of the associated drawing, in which a preferred embodiment with the necessary details and individual parts is shown. The following can be seen:

FIG. 1 shows a toilet brush in side view with brush head attached,

FIG. 2 shows the toilet brush without brush head with side view of the extension that can be slid into the brush head,

FIG. 3 shows a perspective representation with rotatable joint and sword-shaped extension, whereby the extension is in the longitudinal direction of the brush handle,

FIG. 4 shows a representation of the toilet brush according to FIG. 3 with slightly twisted handle and rotated rotatable joint, whereby the sword-shaped extension is moved into the pipe cleaning position,

FIG. 5 shows a representation according to FIG. 4 in a slightly different perspective,

FIG. 6 a+b show two representations of the sword-like extension,

FIG. 7 shows a simplified representation of the toilet brush with a fist-like end piece,

FIG. 8 shows a rectangular formation of the brush head in side view,

FIG. 9a shows a top view of the rectangular brush head according to FIG. 8,

FIG. 9b shows a lenticular formation of the brush head,

FIG. 10 shows various formations of bristle heads,

FIG. 11 shows a locked rotatable joint from the open side,

FIG. 12 shows the locked joint from the locked side,

FIG. 13 shows a toilet brush with the insertion aid protecting the joint area and a scraper,

FIG. 14 shows the detail of a bristle arrangement with an associated longitudinal support and

FIG. 15 shows the compact unit of the brush head with moulded insertion aid.

FIG. 1 shows a toilet brush 1, whose hand grip 2 has a special design in that the grip surface here is formed as an elastic wave handle 12. In this way, a wave eye 14 is formed at the same time, which facilitates the hanging up of the toilet brush 1.

Shaped to the handle 2 is, for example, a round brush handle 3, which is connected at the end with the brush head 4 via an articulated connection 5. The articulated connection is shown in detail in FIG. 2.

The brush head 4 has a variety of bristles 6, 7, 8, that are connected to a bristle carrier 9 and form different combs 20, 21, 22, in order to improve the cleaning effect of the toilet basin at the same time through their mobility.

FIG. 2 makes it clear that the rotatable joint 10, which is used here as an articulated connection 5, permits mobility to side 15 of more than 90°, while it is locked in the direction of the other side 16. More details on this later. An extension i25 s connected articulated with the brush handle 3 via an axis 11. As shown by the other figures, this extension 25 consists of a blade 27 with tip 18 and pommel 29, which is needed for the connection for example with the axis 11.

The brush body 19 corresponds here according to FIG. 1 basically to the state of the art, whereby the brush tip 18 can be specially formed in that the comb 23 formed there can also be formed as a kind of disc with stiffened bristles, in order to optimize the cleaning effect still further.

FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2, whereby the components are shifted somewhat in perspective. However, it can be seen in both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 that the extension 25 runs towards the centre line 42 of brush handle 3 and brush head 4. The perspective further shows that the part running here in the direction of the centre line 42, namely the extension 25 around the axis centre line 26, can be pivoted in one direction, while it is locked in the other direction.

FIG. 4 shows this pivoted position, whereby FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show that the fork ends 32, 33 of the brush handle 3 securely surround the upper end of the extension 25, which is formed here as a pommel 29. Whether as shown here work is carried out via the screw 34, screw head 35 and screw nut 36 as an axis 11 or whether a different form is chosen, in any case, through this special form the extension 25 can only be pivoted in the direction shown here, so that the brush head 4 not shown here is placed in a position from where, for example, it can intensively work on and clean the outflow.

The sword-shaped extension 25 with its pommel 29 has an annular body 39, which allows pivoting of the extension 25 to one side, while locking takes place to the other side.

FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b show this formation with the annular body 39 below the pommel 29.

Toilet brush 1 with hand grip 2, brush handle 3 and brush head 4 are shown again in FIG. 7, whereby the brush head 4 has a sleeve 24 that can be pushed over the extension 25 according to the previous figures, whereby the sword-shaped formation permits twisting of the sleeve 24 and thus of the brush head 4. Brush head 4 itself has a special shape in that it has a fist-like end piece 50, which allows insertion into the inner groove of the toilet basin, which is not shown here, advantageously so that an optimal cleaning effect can be achieved, if this brush head 4 with the fist-like end piece 50 is moved back and forth in this groove.

In addition, FIG. 7 shows that it is not only possible to use a locking shell 41, which is part of the brush handle 3, as shown in the previous figures, but also a corresponding lug on the pommel 29 or the annular body 39.

This is once again made clear by FIG. 8, whereby in particular the rectangular shape 52, which is given to the entire brush head 4, should be mentioned.

Another possibility of forming the brush head 4 is shown in FIG. 9b , where, in deviation from representation in FIG. 9a , a lenticular shape 53 is shown, which makes closely following the bottom of the toilet pan advantageously possible, but improves the cleaning effect at the same time during turning.

In FIGS. 9a and 9b the sleeve opening 9, into which the sword-shaped extension 25 is to be inserted, is shown in the middle of the brush heads 4 shown here. In addition, FIG. 8 shows that this sword-shaped extension 25 does not extend to the brush tip 18, but only up to about the centre of the sleeve 48.

FIG. 10 finally shows special formations of bristles 6, 7, 8, where in one case the free end 44 is shown as a scoop-shaped end 45, as sharpened tip 46 or as a point-shaped tip 47. All forms of the free end 44 of the bristles 6, 7, 8 are intended to support the cleaning effect.

FIGS. 11 and 12 again illustrate clearly what a particularly expedient formation of the articulated connection 5 should look like. In the position shown in FIG. 11, the sword-shaped extension 25 towards the viewer can be done freely, while in the opposite direction, which in particular FIG. 12 makes clear, the locking shell 41 does not allow such a movement towards the viewer. The locking shell 41 and the fork ends 32, 33 are formed in a single part.

FIG. 13 shows a toilet brush 1, in which the rotatable joint 10 with the joint lock 55 is covered by an insertion aid 56 and protected from soiling. This insertion aid 56 is part of the brush head 4, and both are made of the same material, namely silicone. In this embodiment, the individual bristles 6, 7, 8 are placed on top of longitudinal supports 58, 59, 60 in order to make cleaning of the “interior space” between the individual supports considerably easier. If the bristles 6, 7, 8 were drawn through to the bristle carrier 9, i.e. the longitudinal supports 58, 59, 60 were not realized, the dirt could easily settle between the long bristles 6, 7, 8, so that cleaning of the brush head 4 would be difficult. The arrangement of the bristles 6, 7, 8 on the longitudinal support 58, 59, 60 is in shown enlarged in FIG. 14.

The insertion aid 56 represents a kind of pipe with a thickened wall, whereby in particular the insertion area 61 sits tightly around the brush handle 3, so that from here liquid and dirt cannot penetrate into the area of the rotatable joint 10 or the joint lock 55.

A scraper 57, which is hinged in a semicircle at the brush handle 3 and has a sharp edge 62, is connected at the insertion area 61. With the help of this scraper 57, hardened material attached to the porcelain pot can be safely loosened and removed if this has not already been achieved with the help of the brush head 4 and the bristles 6, 7, 8.

The brush head 4 shown in FIG. 15 has continuous long bristles 6, 7, 8 and an inserted extension 25 or a blade 27, which is actually not detectable in this 25 representation, but is shown here highlighted for clarity. This extension 25 can be swivelled around the rotatable joint 10, whereby this rotatable joint 10 is locked in one direction, as was made clear by the previous drawings. Pivoting of the brush head 4 and the extension 25 around the rotatable joint 10 is made more difficult by the insertion aid 56 in that depending on the thickness of the wall of this insertion aid 56 this must be deformed as well. At the same time, the insertion aid 56 thus also serves as a reset spring, since it tends after release to move back to the position shown in FIG. 15. This significantly facilitates the overall operation or handling of the toilet brush 1 and ensures that the toilet brush 1 can then be used again immediately to clean flat areas of the toilet pan.

The rotatable joint 10 in both its special form with the locking shell 41 or with the articulated lock 55 permits pivoting of the brush head 4 in the direction of the brush handle 3 in one direction. Since the rotatable joint 10 is locked to one side only, it can be swivelled against the resetting force of the insertion aid 56 of the brush head 4 up to 10°-45° to the centre line 42 of the brush handle 3, in order to then be inserted into the groove under the upper edge of the toilet pan. However, the rotatable joint 10 ensures that the groove can then be cleaned with the necessary force, because the rotatable joint is locked in the other direction. All the above-mentioned features, including those to be taken from the drawings alone, are considered to be essential to the invention singly and in combination. 

1. Toilet brush with a hand grip (2), a brush handle (3) and a brush head (4) at the end, whereby the brush handle (3) has a articulated connection (5) with the brush head (4) and whereby the bristles (6, 7, 8) are distributed all around the bristle carrier (9) and formed from a material that loosens faeces and lime from the toilet basin, and whereby the articulated joint (5) is formed as a movable rotatable joint (10) around an axis (11), which is shaped to one side (15) to permit movements of over 90° and that the bristles (6, 7, 8) are made of hygienic flexible plastic material, wherein the brush handle (3) is connected to the bristle head (4) at the end by means of a rotatable joint (10) designed as an articulated connection (5), which is formed locked towards the side (16) opposite the side (15) and that the bristles (6, 7, 8) forming combs (20, 21, 22) are arranged on longitudinal supports (58, 59, 60) similar to comb backs and forming brush head (4) as well.
 2. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein the articulated connection (5) is designed to lockable to the other side (16).
 3. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein the combs (20, 21, 22) are arranged in a wave-shaped design.
 4. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein the longitudinal supports (58-60) are assigned to a bristle carrier (9), which is formed as a sleeve consisting of elastic material (24) in whose sleeve opening (49) an extension (25) attached to the axis (11) is insertable with resistance.
 5. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 4, wherein the extension (25), which running vertically to the centre line of the axis (26) is positioned at this, is formed as a sword with respect to blade (27) and tip (28).
 6. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 5, wherein the extension (25) has a pommel (29) that is designed to surround the axis (11) and at the same time is insertable between the fork ends (32, 33) of the brush handle (3) and fixed between them.
 7. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 6, wherein the axis (11) is formed as a screw (34) with screw head (35) and screw nut (36) passing through the fork ends (32, 33).
 8. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 5, wherein a ring body (39) that projects over the blade (27) is arranged between blade (27) and pommel (29).
 9. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 8, wherein on one ring side (40) the ring body (39) has a semi-circular locking shell (41) surrounding the fork ends (32, 33).
 10. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 9, wherein the locking shell (41) or a joint lock (55) acting directly on the axis (11) is designed to allow pivoting up to 10°-45° to the centre line (42) of the brush handle (3).
 11. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein t the bristles (6, 7, 8) at the free end (44) are spherical or scoop-shaped or a form a tip (46).
 12. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein the brush head (4) has a vertically upright rectangular shape (52) or a vertically upright lens shape (53) and is insertable into the groove under the top edge of the toilet pan and can clean this area with the necessary force.
 13. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 4, wherein the sleeve opening (49) receiving the sword-shaped extension (25) is designed to reach the centre of the sleeve (48).
 14. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 4, wherein the sleeve (24) and thus the brush head (4) is formed to have a fist-like end piece (50).
 15. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 8, wherein the ring body (39) is designed as a tightly fitting insertion aid (56) and part of the sleeve (24) bearing the longitudinal supports (58-60) and bristles (6, 7, 8) carrying and to be slid over the locking shell (41) or the joint lock (55) and the joint (10) and the extension (25).
 16. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 5, wherein the sleeve (24) and the insertion aid (56) are made of silicone and the insertion aid (56) has a wall thickness that pre-sets the level of the resetting force.
 17. Toilet brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein a semi-circular scraper (57) is arranged on the brush handle (3). 